Town council members accept voluntary wage freeze

Published on December 23, 2009

Published on March 5, 2010

Katie Tower

Sackville town council agreed to forego their raises for 2010, saying municipal leaders need to set an example amidst tough economic hard times.

But at least one town councillor disagreed with the move, pointing out it was a hollow gesture that only amounted to a few dollars, if any.

Coun. Virgil Hammock, one of three councillors to vote against the voluntary wage freeze, said that council's annual pay increases are calculated using New Brunswick's consumer price index (CPI) rate, which currently sits at a negative figure.

This means council wouldn't even likely have received a pay hike in the new year.

Councillors Joyce O'Neil and Mike Tower also voted against the salary adjustment, while those voting in favour included Merrill Fullerton, Margaret Tusz-King, John Higham and Deputy Mayor Bob Berry. (Coun. Bruce Phinney did not attend the meeting.)

Hammock said he was also concerned that non-unionized staff with the town would be pressured into having their wages frozen as well.

But Mayor Pat Estabrooks argued that council was simply setting an example for other municipalities, at a time when town and city officials are being asked by the provincial government to make sacrifices in order to provide necessary services to their communities.

Coun. Fullerton even suggested town council could do much more to ensure the future financial stability of the town.

"I'd be willing to look at reducing our per diem (costs) and our salary," said Fullerton, "and we should even be looking at reducing our council from eight to six, which has been a recommendation that has been made in the past. Our legislative costs are high and we should be looking at a way to reduce that."

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